A devastating road accident at Wiitu shopping centre on the Kitui-Kibwezi road claimed the lives of at least six schoolchildren on Friday morning. The victims included three primary school students and three secondary school students, all from Kyaoni Primary and Kyaoni Secondary schools.
According to National Police Service spokesperson Dr. Resila Onyango, the accident occurred around 6:20 am as the children were crossing the road on their way to school. Tragically, all six children—five of whom were girls—died at the scene.
Ikutha Deputy County Commissioner Vincent Lomachary reported that the children were struck by a Probox salon car, which was allegedly speeding at the time of the incident. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene but later surrendered to Mutomo Police Station. The driver has been arrested, and the vehicle has been impounded as investigations into the accident continue.
Dr. Onyango described the incident as a significant tragedy, underscoring the urgent need for improved road safety measures. This accident is part of a troubling trend in the country, where fatal road accidents have been on the rise. Approximately 4,000 people are killed annually in separate traffic incidents, despite ongoing efforts to curb this alarming trend.
Authorities are calling for increased vigilance and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future.
